Silence of the Heart: Dialogues with Robert Adams

I have been studying Advaita Vedanta for over forty years including all the traditional sources. I have not been impressed by the current crop of New Age Advaita teachers, whose teachings might be characterized as "the cult of non-practice". Such teachings may be attractive and consoling to those who wish to be congratulated for being "already realized" but not so useful to those who are truly moved to realize the true nature of self and world for real. They do have the value of introducing newbies to the fundamental conclusions of non-dualism, but the seemingly logical advice to engage in no spiritual practice has a serious flaw. This flaw is the failure to recognize or acknowledge that nearly everyone is already doing a very intense practice -- the practice of identification with a presumed separate self. All of the devastating consequences including fear, sorrow, anger and all the rest -- called "suffering" in Buddhism -- follow from this already ongoing practice. This practice is not undone by simply reading the great Advaitic conclusions and somehow "noticing" that they are true. Such noticing doesn't cut very deep into the already firmly-held conviction of separation and mortality. Those teachers who merely offer "pointers" to one's true nature delude their followers into thinking that nothing beyond noticing what is being pointed to is necessary. For awhile, at first, this may seem to "work", but soon the deeply entrenched practice of egoity and presumption of separation reasserts itself with a vengeance. I am sorry to see Robert Adams wonderful book, "Silence of the Heart", sometimes lumped into the category of such New Age Neo-Advaita. It is actually something quite different. It is far more reflective of the strong non-dualistic teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj. Such traditional teachers fully understood the power of maya and did not underestimate its force. While they articulated the highest non-dualistic conclusions, they also offered potent practices to undermine the deeply encrusted egoic presumptions of aspirants. Robert Adams teaches in this same spirit. This book contains the highest wisdom that can be expressed in words along with a healthy respect for the obstacles faced by sincere aspirants. Adams offers the kind of realistic assessment and authentic practices to move beyond the limitations which have plagued us for eons, into the clear light of authentic wisdom and transcendental realization. Robert Adams was the real deal and is worthy of serious attention. Highly recommended for those who wish to move beyond the sometimes inspiring, but ultimately limited offerings of the New Age Neos.

I have read countless books on spirituality in one form or another, and this is my absolute favorite. Vedanta will obviously not be to everyone's liking, but I have always considered it to be an unsurpassed spiritual philosophy. The trouble I have had with it at times, though, is that it all seems to get a bit too "heady." If there is anything I am convinced that I need to do in my life to progress, it's getting out of my head more. But the great thing about Robert Adams and "Silence of the Heart" is that this is indeed Vedanta with a heart. Somehow, Robert Adams, through these dialogues, makes the highest expressions of Vedanta accessible and relevant to our daily lives. This is not dry, sanitized, or isolated Advaita. Robert's style seems a perfect fit for my temperament. I hesitate to share the following, because often when I read such things from others I wonder whether the person hasn't just deluded themselves. Still, I can in all honesty say that this book had a profound effect on my consciousness, many times to the point where I was experiencing a joy or sense of something so indescribale that words fail me. Several times, while reading this book, I felt on the verge of a breakthrough of such depth or wonder that I thought I might somehow be "swept away." All I can say, in my very clumsy way, is that this "book" was much more than reading a book. I have never experienced anything like it before from any other book I have ever read.

To me, this is the most enjoyable of all Neo-Advaita books. I think I can say that, having read just about all the new wave of such books flooding out in the past ten years. The title alone is worth the whole purchase price. Curious though, while Adams definitely seems to have realized the Whole Enchilada of radical Awakening, yet his presentation to students differs subtly from the most radical leading contemporary neo-Advaitic edge authors. The serious NeoA hipsters aver that there is NOTHING to "do" and NOBODY to "do" it, if there were! They are really firm on this point. And yes, Adams sometimes talks that way too. However, though Adams' talks are mostly consistent with that tough guy view, still his material is also permeated throughout with little hints and suggestions for things to do, and soft nudges that attempting these (miminalistic) practices is somehow important or useful in attaining some kind of happiness. For example, Adams talks about using the moment of waking up from (regular) sleep as a chance to "follow the I back to the heart" or basically not allow the I to creep its way up from the heart to the brain (because on the way to the brain, the nice big upper-case "I" (universal Self) gets funneled down into a Grinchy lower-case "i" (ordinary egoic grasper such as most of us are). He also mentions Ramana's concept of the spiritual heart as being in the center-right chest. Probably experts will want to paint the above types of instructions and assertions as purely metaphorical, but I'm not so sure. It almost looks as though Adams is offering seekers a *gasp* PRACTICE! Heavens to Murgatroid! Orthodox Neo-Advaita holds that doing ANYTHING whatsoever, especially being an dumbass tail-chasing cat with respect to Awakening, is totally idiotic. But Adams' talking/text is an undeniably huge tidal wave of power, warmth and brilliance. I don't know how to square the cicle of his apparent fondness for "doing something" (however mild his suggestions) vs the kick-ass Neo-Advaitic Torquemada's out there who radically assert their doctrine of the total vacuity of any and all effort, but anyway Adams' book makes for the best read of all works on Neo-Advaita, bar none.

Spectacular Spectacular No words in the vernacular Can describe this document You'll be filled with wonderment. This is a really great book, my favourite, hence the introduction. Of all the Advaita Vedanta books out there, I found this the easiest to read and assimilate. Ramana, Nisargadata and the like are great and I love most of the books out there on them, but this just seems to speak to me so much more than anything else. Although there is nothing really new in this book (especially if you have been studying Advaita for a while) It really gives an enjoyable fresh perspective to it all, a bit like "I Am That" without the strain or headaches! Great book, a joy to read :) Since writing this review I've read Silence of the Heart vol II and listened to some of Roberts original live audio recordings, both of which are excellent.

If Nisargadatta had been born in California I would expect him to sound much like Robert Adams does in this book. Robert speaks from the position of someone who knows by direct experience like Nisargadatta or Maharshi. The words mostly are as profound as either. Robert also gives practical advice on Self Enquiry and practice in general. Robert calls himself a desciple of Ramana Maharshi as he apparently had a spontaneous awakening as a teenager. A couple of quotes:"There is only one I actually. That I is Consciousness. When you follow the personal I to the source, it turns into the universal I, which is Consciousness. Begin to catch yourself. begin to realize your divine nature. You do this by keeping quiet. The fastest way to realization is to keep quiet.""Grass grows spontaneously, but we can imagine we are making it grow with our willpower. The same with the activities of our bodies."Recommended